Glass-gathering machine.



' A. L. SGHRAM.

GLASS GATHERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FBLZB, 1910. 15,024,228, Patented A131223, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.`

wrrNEssEs x nNvENi-on VA. L. SGHRAM.

GLASS GATHERING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Emma, 1910.

1,024,228. Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

wrrNEssEs mvEN'ron www/f y @y w@ ggg@ A. L. SG1-IRAM.

GLASS GATHERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.2B, 1910.

1,024,228. Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. L. SCI-IRAM.

GLASS GATHERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PBB.28. 1910.

Patented A101223, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTOR WITNESSES all ALEXANDER L., SCRAM, OF Hl'-LSBRG, IELINIS.

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To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that l, ALEXANDER4 L. SCI-raam, of Hillsboro, Montgomery county, Illinois, have invented a new and useful Glass-Gathering Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specitication, in which- Figure l is a top planiview showing one form of my improved gathering machine; Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same; Eig. 3 is an enlarged section of the upper portion of the machine; Fig. l is a partial plan view on a larger scale than Fig.. l; and Figs. 5'and 6 are detail views hereinafter referred to.

My invention relates to the gathering ot glass from a tank hearth or receptacle containing it.

The object of the invention is to gather .measured batches of glass, and feed them to molds.

A. further object is to provide a simple, compact and easily operated machine, in which suction may be employed -to -gather the measured batches and drop them in successive molds, preferably by the opening of the portions of the gathering cups.

ln the drawings, 2 represents a vertical stationary shaft supported upon vthe diverging base frame having le, members 3. l'hrough the upper part of this base frame extend rods l trom the cross-head of pluner 5 of a hydraulic or air cylinder 6.

The upper ends of these rods, which are preferably reduced incross-section are secured to a flange 7 of a sleeve or hollow shaft 8 surrounding shaft 2. This shaft 8 may be moved up and downhy plunger 5,

but does not rotate. 0n' the flange 7 of hollow shaft 8 is secured a stationary cam plate 9, the cam on the edge of which is engaged by a roller l0 on the rock arm 11.

Supported on the cam plate 9 by a ballbearing 12 is a turret 13 having bearings around the shaft 8 and rotatable thereon. To the lower endl portion of this turret is secured the circular rack lll-,- which engages the lon er teeth of a toothed wheell, the teeth oi; the rack remaining in engagement therewith in did'erent vertical positions of the turret.. rr he toothed wheel 15 is pref-A erably engaged by a toothed wheel or actu- Speoilcation of Lettersv Bate'ntc Application filed February 28, 191i). Serial lo. 312.

Fatemi-Bed Apr. lc

the vgathering machine, as shown dottedv lines in Fig. 2.

To the upper part of the turret 13 are secured three radially extending arms 17, the outer ends of which arms are 'slotted or recessed to form side guides` itl, on and within which slide the halves 19 and 2O of the' gathering cups-there being one cup for each arnL These gathering cups when closed preferably form a gathering cavity, which in its lower portion has the shape of the inverted frustum of a cone, as shown in Figs. 2 and This enlarging in crosssection upwardly forms a support for the gathered batch to prevent its dropping oute The two halves of the cup are moved toward and from each other automatically and at the proper stat-ions during the rotation of` the machine. For this purpose l have shown the inner halt' o' each gathering cup as actuated by a pipe or hollow rod 21 screwed into it and extending along the arm to a sliding rack 22 having teeth on. one side thereof engaging pinion 23, as shown iny Fig.. Il. l'n front of the sliding rack 22 and on the same level, is a separate sliding rack 24 having teeth on its opposite side engaging a pinion 'l'he raclr 24 is secured to a sleeve 26, to the outer end of which is secured cross-head 27 having bolts 28 extending through the inner hall of the gathering cup and screwed into the outer half of the cup. The racks 22 and and A the cross-head 27 are suitably guided on the arm, and the pinions 23 and 25 are secured to vertical stub shafts 29 and 30, which project downwardly and carry at their lower ends pinions 31 and 32 engaging a toothed wheel 33 at the upper end of vertical shaft let, to whose lower end is rigidly secured therocl arm 1l. A spiral spring 35 surrounds the sleeve 26 and hears against rack 24.-, thus constantly tending to close the mold halves The apex of the stationary cam 9 is so located that at each stop of the gathering machine the cup containing the previously gathered glass will open above the mold pressing or blowing machine, and then in the further movement will pass the apex of the cam, whereupon the roller l0 will drop down from the apex `connections allow the spring to close the ou n.

ln order to provide suitable sucking connections to draw the lass upwardly within the cup at the gathering station, l secure a ring 86 to the top of the turret, this. ring having a vertical port 37 'from which a lexible`pipe or channel 38 leads through the rack body 22 and 'taps into the pipe 2l. rlhe port 87 when any of the arms is the gathering station, is brought into reglstry with a 'vertical port 39 in. a stationary ruig l0,the port 39 having a suction pipe Ll1 connected to it and leading to any suitab e source of suction. Above the stationary ring 40 is a washer l2 and a lock nut 43 secured to the hollow shaft 8. l have shown a vspring le in the stationary ring 40 pressing upwardly on the side' opposite to the port 30, and thereby tending to .keep the joint between the ports 37 and 39 in close Contact.

From the end of the suction pipe 2l a short nipple ll5 leads through the inner half of the cup and into a vertical valve passage within ar removable plug 47. This plug is carried by the inner half of the cup when the two parts are separated, and within the valve passa-ge 46 is located the valve stem of a valve 48 which controls water.

stant level by an intake pipe 54 and an overflow pipe 55, a circulation of cooling.

its lower end. By using different lengths of plugs, I can measure the quantity of the glass which is gathered, since the sucking action will draw the glass in until it lills the cavity, the size of this cavity depending upon the length of the plug. ln this mann'er by changing plugs, l can adapt the machine for dille-rent sizes and 'kinds of articles. The valve and stem are or" such weight relative to the suction and size of passage 'that the valve will hang down in open position as limited by a cross-pin through it, until the glass sucked up withinv the cup strikes the lower end of the valve and pushes it shut. The suction will then stop and the glass will sink back slightly, as approximately shown in Fig.

At the gathering station I preferably provide a imite or shear device 49, which is preferably arranged to move across the lower end ot 'the cup and coact with it to shear olf the glass from the batch. This knife may be pivotally mounted at 50 and provided with internal pipe-cooling connections leading to inlet and outlet pipes 51 and 52. The knife or shear may be under the vcontrol oi' the operator, and actuated by him, as desired.

At the third or cooling station Il provide a vessel or receptacle 53 which contains 'lhe water may oe kept at a conwater thus being produced. This open-top noaaaas from a pipe 59, having a control valve 60,

which may be actuated by the operator as desired, or may be connected tothe glass ressing orl blowing machine in such a way as to actuate it 'at the desired intervals vto raise and lower the turret and arms.

To adjust the height to which the plunger lifts, I have shown a cross-bar 61 passing through a vertical slot in the stationary shaft 2 and through side slots .62 in the shaft 8. Thiscross-bar is secured to the lower end of a central rod 63 having its end portionscrew-threaded to engage the inner threads of a nut G4. This nut is secured to a bevel wheel 65 engaging bevel Wheel 66 on the shaft 67, having at its outer end a hand wheel 68. The bevel gears are preferably inclosed by a casing 69. By

1turning the end wheelthe cross-bars (il will be raised and lowered, and act as a stop for the upward movement of the plunger 5.

ln Fig. l l have lettered the three stations as liollows:-"l`he gathering station is lettered A; the discharge station B; and the cooling station C.

ln the operation of themachine, it is rotated a third of a revolution, until the cups are brought to their proper stations, preferably by the movement of the glass niolding machine. During this rotation the turret and arms are lifted, or in their upper position. When they reach their stations, the air is exhausted from the cylinder 6 and the three cups move down to a lower level. At this time the cup at the gathering station is connected with the suction supply, and glass is sucked up from the bath' into 'which the lower end of the cup dips, until the cup cavity is filled. The shear is then actuated to cut oil?. At the same time the lowering of the turret brings the cup at station B down near a mold, and

the cam opens the cup and allows the glass v batch to drop into the open mold as indicated in Fig. 2. At the same time, at 'the third station the third cup is lowered into.

the body of water .in the receptacle 53, thus cooling it so that it will he prepared for receiving the next batch. The rotation is in a clockwise direction, as theparts are shown in Fig. 1. llVhenthese operations are accomplished, air is admitted to the cylinder 6, the turret is lifted,l and then turned a third of a revolution. In this turning operation, the cooled cup is closed'before it reaches the gathering station. When it reaches the gathering station it in turn is connected with the suction supply; the next cup is brought to the cooling station, and

lll

:inattesa the lled cup is brought over the mold and opened.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The glass is gathered and measured mechanically, and the'amount of glass may be changed by merely changing the plugs in the cups, which is an easy and quick operation. The glass is positively dropped by the opening of the parts of the cup. The upwardly converging Walls of the cup serve to support the mass of glass and prevent its dropping out when the'suction. is disconneet-ed after leaving the'gathering station. The lifting operation carries the cup with the gathered glass away from the bath, and the lowering brings-one cup into contact with the glass of the bath from which it is gathered, another cup into the cooling receptacle, and the other cup near the mold.

The machine is simple., easily operated, and not liable to get out oi order. The opening and closing of the cup parts are automatically carried out, as are also the connecting and disconnecting of the suction supply.

Many variations may be made in the form and arrangement ot the machine and its parts without departing from my invention.

I claim l. A suction gathering. machine for glass having interchangeable plugs arranged to vary the amount 'of the measured batch; substantially as described.

2. A suction gathering machine for glass havin interchangeable lu -s arranged to g s e vary the amount of the measured batch, each of said plugs having a valve passage through it; substantially as described.

3. A gathering cup having a suction passage, a changeable plug through which the passage extends, and a valve for the passage arranged to be closed bythe entering glass; substantially as described.

4. A suction-gathering cup having a plurality of separable parts, connections for opening and closing the parts, and a removable plug forming a top for the cup, said plug by reason of its removability, whereby plugs of different thickness may be employed, providing meansfor varying the `depth of the cup,'substantially as described.

l5. A suction gathering cup having an open bottom and made in two or more separable parts, mechanism for opening and closing the parts, a removable plug Withinv ,the cup parts forming the top of the cup and removably'attached to one of its parts, and a suctionV channel extending through said plug; substantially as described. y

6. A suction gathering cup having an open bottom and made in two or more Vseparable parts, a closing plug Within the parts forming the top of the cup, a suction channel extending through the plug, and a movy scribed.

able valve in the plug adapted to be closed by the entering glass; substantially' as de- 7 A suction gathering machine having a plurality of cups made in tvvo or more parts, and mechanical connections operated by the movement of y'the gathering machine .and arranged to automatically open and close the parts of thc cup and drop the gathered batch from the cup during the movement of the machine; substantially as described.

8. A suction-gathering machine for glass having a carrier provided with gathering cups, each cup being made in a plurality of parts, connections arranged 'to automatically Open and close said cup parts during the operation of the machine, a cooling station having a liquid tanlnvand connections arranged to move the cup relatively to the liquid tank to cool the cup at the cooling station, substantially as described.

9. A gathering machine having an endless carrier, a plurality of cups mounted thereon and made in separable parts, mec,.--

anism for automatically opening and closing y cups, each made in a plurality of separable parts, mechanism for automatically opening and closing the cup parts during the movement of the machine, mechanism for raising and lowering` the carrier, and adjusting mechanism for adjusting the extent ot' vertical movement, substantially as described.

12. In a glass gathering machine, an endless carrier having a plurality of suctioir gatheringcups With open bottoms, each cup being made in a plurality of separable parts, mechanism for opening and closing the cup parts during the movement of the carrier, and a mold-carrying machine connected With and arranged to drive the carrier of the gathering machine, substantially as described.

13. A glass gathering machine having a rotary carrier provided With a series of open bottom cups, each cup being made in a plurality of parts, a cooling station, a gathering station, anda dropping station Within the path of the carrier, mechanism for intermittently rotating the carrier, and connections arranged to automatically open the cups at the dropping station and close them for the gathering station, substanl tially as described.

14. A glass rotary carrier provided with a series of suction cups having open bottoms, each cup being made in a plurality of parte, mechanism for opening and closing the cup parts during the movement; of the machine, a cool l0 ing station having a liquid tank', andmechgathering machine having e meeeee :mism arranged to cause movement of the cups relatively to the tank at the cooling station to. cool the Cups, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 15 set my hand.

ALEXANDER LSCHRAM. Witnesses: l

(l, LUCHLE DAMMANM 

